The lure of unmanned transport services is no longer a science
fiction scenario but a living reality.
Crewless merchant ships are already operating along rivers in
Norway, Finland, Singapore and China. The advantages are plentiful
because they reduce crewing and fuel consumption costs, increase
the safety of life and cargo as well as allow for more efficient
use of space in ship design.
While showcasing human ingenuity riding high on the crest of
digitisation, crewless vessels are still no magical solution to
seafaring challenges and problems. Champions of autonomous shipping
affirm that accidents arising from human error will be drastically
reduced. The more cautious argue that autonomous shipping proposals
need much more critical thinking on principles of navigation and
their application, particularly when facing rapidly changing
weather conditions such as squalls as well as notoriously congested
sea routes.
